Not drinking alcohol for a month, particularly after the splendor of the end-of-year celebrations, is a resolution adopted by more and more people in Switzerland. However, the social pressure to consume alcohol is still very present.
Dry January, or sober January, is a concept from the United Kingdom which involves not drinking alcohol for a month. It has existed in French-speaking Switzerland since 2021, in partnership with the French-speaking Group for Addiction Studies (GREA) and the Blue Cross.
“In Switzerland, one in eight people try the experience each year. We observe regular support on social networks and the TryDry application, which accompanies this challenge,” explains Célestine Perissinotto, project manager at GREA of dry January for the French-speaking Switzerland, in the show We talk about it on January 2, 2025. “It’s true that we like to drink and eat during the holidays. It is within this framework that Dry January falls. The day after a heavy meal, we are more inclined to take a break from alcohol.”
Followers mainly city dwellers
“The profile of the participants is quite varied, but they mainly come from large Swiss cities such as Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich and Basel. Their profile is also socially favored,” continues Célestine Perissinotto, who specifies that the same phenomenon is observed among our French neighbors. “So the big challenge is to reach people from all backgrounds.”
Social pressure still very present
Reunions with family or friends, festive occasions, so many situations during which alcohol will be involved. How dare to say no? “Social pressure is undeniable,” replies Célestine Perissinotto. “The trick is often to prepare yourself in the eyes of others, to realize that non-consumption is still taboo today. And then to use humor and ‘self-deprecation.’
In 2023, a study carried out among young people in French-speaking Switzerland showed to what extent there was still a factor of exclusion among people who did not wish to consume alcohol. “We come across as a mood-breaker,” explains the specialist. But not only that: “Other stigmas are associated with not drinking alcohol, such as illness or religious elements.”
Benefits already felt after one month
“In our study, 70% of those questioned said they had better energy after a month of sobriety. Sleep also improved. A week may be enough to feel the first effects, both on physical and mental health,” specifies Célestine Perissinotto.
“Participation is more successful when you do Dry January with loved ones. But you can also do it alone and follow the event on social networks, or subscribe to our newsletter. We share a lot of advice there. And then There’s also the TryDry app, which is like a logbook that tracks your daily progress.”
Include the restaurant sector
How to involve bars and restaurateurs in the Dry January movement? “It’s a big challenge. When we launched Dry January in 2021, the catering sector was cautious. However, the situation is changing very quickly, since the demand for non-alcoholic drinks is increasing sharply. There is therefore also a growing confidence that is emerging in this sector”, concludes Célestine Perissinotto.
Radio subject: Jérôme Zimmermann and Philippe Girard
Web adaptation: Myriam Semaani
